"What is it, Mirajane?" Lucy and Rowan turned back.
Mirajane took one of Lucy's hands and one of Rowan's, smiling brightly. "I want the two of you to go with Erza's team tomorrow."
"Me?" Lucy stared at her in disbelief. "I won't be much help…"
Rowan, on the other hand, already understood why he was included.
Sure enough, Mirajane explained patiently. "Lucy, Natsu and Gray are guaranteed to start arguing the moment Erza isn't looking. I need you to help keep them in check. As for you, Rowan…" She leaned in slightly. "Whether the guild hall is still standing when the Master comes back depends on you."
That was… dramatic.
Rowan's mouth twitched, but under Mirajane's gentle, hopeful gaze, he nodded. "Alright. I'll do my best."
It was obvious what she was worried about. Erza, Natsu, and Gray on the same mission was a recipe for collateral damage. She wanted Rowan there as emergency support.
And honestly, he couldn't say no. The guild had treated him well, and he was curious. Whatever problem could make an S-Class mage ask for help wasn't going to be trivial.
There was also a chance, however small, that it involved something rare. Something like a Dragon Lacrima.
Before his super wand, he might have refused outright. That kind of mission carried real risk. But now, with his magic output multiplied several times over, he felt confident enough to at least get away if things went bad.
Lucy hesitated, then nodded as well. Nervous, but excited. This was exactly the kind of adventure she'd joined Fairy Tail for.
The next morning, Magnolia Station.
Rowan arrived early with a small backpack and a spellbook, quietly reading while he waited.
Calling it a backpack was generous. On his current body, it was closer to a coin pouch. But thanks to an extension charm cast with his enhanced wand, the interior space rivaled a small apartment.
Plenty of room for books.
He had already gotten the basics of giant magic and light magic down. Now he was branching into simpler spells that could support him in real combat.
"Rowan!"
Lucy's voice broke his focus. She jogged over, having arrived just as early.
She was wearing a yellow camisole and a short blue skirt, the outfit doing her absolutely no favors in terms of subtlety. Rowan looked once, then calmly went back to his book.
A moment later, Natsu, Happy, and Gray arrived. As usual, Natsu and Gray immediately started arguing.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Erza appeared at last, hauling a massive flatbed cart behind her.
Lucy froze.
"…Why is there so much luggage?"
The cart was stacked with dozens of full suitcases.
Happy whispered, "Erza has a condition. Every mission means bringing all her clothes."
Rowan's attention wasn't on the clothes. It was on what the clothes implied.
Requip magic wasn't limited to weapons. Armor took space. A lot of it. If Erza wasn't storing her luggage magically, then her requip space was already packed with gear.
S-Class indeed.
"Erza," Rowan said after a brief pause, setting down his bag. "If you don't mind, I can store your luggage in my magic item."
She blinked, then watched as he casually stuffed a thick spellbook into the tiny pack.
Her eyes lit up. "You have a rare spatial item? That would help a lot."
Rowan opened the bag and flicked his paw. The wand inside, rimmed with metal, flew neatly into his grasp.
"Mobilicorpus."
With smooth, precise motions, the suitcases lifted one by one, lining up and disappearing into the bag as if obeying choreography.
"Whoa…" Lucy and the others stared.
Rowan's magic wasn't flashy, but it was elegant. Repairs, cleaning, organization. It all looked effortless.
He slung the bag back on his back. "I'm not much of a frontline fighter. I'll focus on support."
Truthfully, he had no intention of charging in unless absolutely necessary. This wasn't a job for reckless heroics.
"That's fine," Erza said confidently, thumping her armor. "Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and I will handle the fighting."
Lucy's smile stiffened. She briefly considered confessing that the story about defeating a Vulcan with one finger was wildly exaggerated.
The train whistle sounded.
The mission was about to begin.